Jesus' Transfiguration Is Revealing

JESUS’ TRANSFIGURATION IS REVEALING (Outline)

MARK 9:2-9 - February 6, 2005 - TRANSFIGURATION

INTRO: People often take note of the seasons that change. The signs can be very obvious. This past week provided days that seemed like spring. But a sudden snowstorm reminds us that we are still in the midst of winter. These are signs we do not ignore. Today, in the church, is a celebration of the changing of church seasons. We have been in Epiphany where Jesus is clearly seen as the Light of the world, God’s own Son. Transfiguration marks the move from the Epiphany season into the season of Lent. Dur-ing these 40 days before Easter we see Jesus as the Son of man. Jesus’ glory is moved to the background as his humility comes to the foreground. All of this we are privileged to learn and know as we gather around the word of God revealed in the Bible. We are privileged to learn God’s word by reading, study-ing, and gathering for worship. "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked"(PSALM 84:10). We gather around the word of the Lord to learn: JESUS’ TRANFIGURATION IS REVEALING.

I. Jesus reveals his divine glory, and II. Jesus prepares for sacrifice.

I. JESUS REVEALS DIVINE GLORY

A. Our text begins with a time frame. We are told: After six days Jesus took….

1. Turn back to the ending verses of chapter 8 of Mark. Jesus tells his disciples of Jerusalem.

2. Jesus must go to Jerusalem to suffer, die, and come back to life. The disciples disagree.

B. It is after this event, 6 days that Jesus took certain disciples on a mountain. Verse 2.

1. Jesus was alone with his disciples and was transfigured. Verse 3 defines this word.

2. Jesus’ clothing was changed – shining whiter than anyone could imagine.

C. There was also more that took place. Verse 4 says Moses and Elijah were also there with Jesus.

1. Moses had received the law of God from God. Elijah defended God’s law.

2. We have the meeting and agreement of God’s law with God’s Son. God’s Word is true.

3. God’s word in the law and the prophets is fulfilled in the divine glory of God’s only Son!

D. By faith, you and I and every believer, have also seen this glory of God’s divine son. We have Jesus’ glory with eyes that have read the Scriptures. The gospel of John accurately and fittingly describes the glory of Jesus in chapter 1. Just one verse from chapter one declares: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (JOHN 1:14). (Check the beginning verses of John 1 for more of Jesus’ glory.)

E. Many find it difficult to consider Jesus as anyone more than Joseph and Mary’s son. Many in this world only see Jesus as a carpenter of Nazareth. They think Jesus to be a good teacher, so-so preacher and part-time miracle worker. But, Jesus as the Son of God, that is a stretch to understand. God’s word clearly declares the divine glory of Jesus, Savior of mankind. "The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word" (HEBREWS 1:3a). What a comfort for every believer to realize Jesus is the same yesterday, today, forever and cares for us!

F. Seeing the glory of Jesus and believing that he is God’s own son does not depend on us. By God’s abundant grace he has worked faith in our hearts. We can rejoice and praise God that his love for us causes him to cause us to believe. "For God, who said, ’Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ" (2 CO-RINTHIANS 4:6). We who once sat in darkness now sit in the light of the glory of God in the face of Christ. All of this is ours not by our own efforts or merit but comes freely by the undeserved love of God.

TRANS: JESUS’ TRANSFIGURATION IS REVEALING. On that mountain Jesus’ clothes and ap-pearance is changed so that his disciples (then and today) see the reflected glory of God in Christ. Then

II. JESUS PREPARES FOR SACRIFICE

A. Remember that Peter, James, and John did not want to see Jesus go to Jerusalem to suffer and die.

1. All this worldly thinking was going to begin to change. Verse 5.